Nunnelee still without 1st District opponent

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NUNNELEE

By Robbie Ward

Daily Journal

TUPELO – U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee will learn in nine days if his third campaign to represent the 1st Congressional District will have any primary or general election opposition.

Nunnelee, a 55-year-old second-term Republican from Tupelo, has waited nearly a year to find out who, if anyone, will challenge him during mid-term Congressional elections.

So far, no one.

The party primary is June 3 and the general election Nov. 4.

No Democrat or independent has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission to seek the congressional seat representing the region.

Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director Rickey Cole said Wednesday he remains uncertain if the party will field a candidate for the race.

As for a challenger within the GOP, none has announced or publicly kicked around the idea to run. The state Republican Party would not disclose whether anyone has filed papers to face the incumbent in the primary election.

Procrastinators have until 5 p.m. March 1 to file qualifying papers to represent the district covering 22 counties. Base annual pay in 2014 for a congressman is $174,000.

Nunnelee, who won the office in 2010 by defeating Democratic incumbent Travis Childers, had Republican primary opposition that year and running as an incumbent in 2012.

Nunnelee’s war chest shows a candidate ready for an opponent. Recent campaign finance filings showed the congressman with $428,050 on Dec. 31. In 2013, he received $424,391 in total contributions.

A statement from Nunnelee provided Wednesday by political consultant Morgan Baldwin stated his priorities.

“I will continue to work to cut spending, reduce our nation’s debt and repeal the job killing regulations of the Obama administration,” it said. “We must do everything within our power to grow jobs and get our economy moving again.”